A Ghost in Time (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 3) by J. D. Winters Page B

her. “But what about that time when I was in danger and you told him where to find me. How did you do that?”
    This was a subject that had puzzled me for weeks. It seemed the ghosts could do more than they pretended if they really wanted to.  
    But she went back into playing dumb. “Me? I didn’t do that. I don’ know what you talkin’ about.” She shrugged and went back to her dirt. “He came back here and talk da kine loud mouth bird when he couldn’t find you.”
    “So you didn’t think to tell him where he could find me this time, huh?”
    She shook her head. Sometimes it was maddening trying to talk to ghosts.  
    She looked up, frowning. “Bebe’s sad today, huh?”
    “Yes. Did you hear about what happened last night?”
    She nodded. “I hear things.”
    “She’s taking all the blame on herself. Isn’t there any magic you could do to make her feel better?”
    She didn’t answer and I sighed. “You know what would really make her feel better? If we could find Sami and bring him home. She’s so worried about that cat.”
    She gave me a sly, sideways look. “You do it,” she said.  
    I blinked. “What do you mean?”
    She made a face at me. “You do it. ’Bout time you learn to do it yourself.”
    I still didn’t know what she was talking about. “How can I do it? Are you saying…?”
    “If your Granma was here, she would teach you.” She straightened, hands on her hips and looked at me. “She still not here. So I guess I gotta do it.”
    “Do what?”
    “Teach you some magic.”
    I stared at her, my mouth hanging open like a doofus. But I was stunned. I’d never in my life had the idea that anyone was going to be teaching me magic. I couldn’t seem to get it clear in my mind. What was she saying?
    “I can’t do magic.”
    “Why not? You think you too good for magic?”
    “No, that’s not it.”
    “Sure it is. You think you’re modern and smart and you don’t need magic. Right?”
    “But…”
    “Your granma always said you were the one. But she didn’t want to rush it. Now I think it’s time.”
    I tried to think but my mind was a mess. In the end, I answered on pure emotional skids, rejecting the very thought of it.  
    “No!”
    I don’t know why I was reacting so strongly against the whole idea. Fear? Maybe. It was too new to me. It was like something thrust on me, something beyond my control, and I didn’t like that.  
    “No. I don’t need magic. I don’t want it in my life.”
    Aunty Jane looked hurt. “But you were just asking me….”
    “I’m sorry.” I reached out to touch her shoulder and my hand went right through her body. Suddenly I was having a hard time breathing. “No, I’m sorry, really. I shouldn’t have said anything. I…I’ve got to go.”
    I escaped back into the house and had to stop to catch my breath. I didn’t know why I’d panicked like that, but my heart was still beating a mile a minute in my chest. I wanted no part of magic. Something deep inside told me it would only bring me misery. I had to stay away.  

    Bebe didn’t feel like eating and neither did I, so we skipped lunch. I drove Bebe downtown to the station house. They wanted to go over her statement again and ask more questions. New things, supposedly, had come up.  
    We were about half way there when she turned to me suddenly, looking anxious, and said, “Did you see a tall dark man there?”
    “Where?”
    “After I…at the scene. The accident. Tall, gaunt, black hair, dressed in black. Looked like an undertaker. Like Ichabod Crane or Don Quixote. Did you see him?”
    I thought hard, but shook my head. “No. I don’t remember anybody like that being there. Why?”
    She turned away. “I…I don’t know. It’s probably just my imagination. Or…” She tried to smile as though it was a joke. “Or maybe he was a ghost.”
    This was starting to feel a little weird. “Did you see any ghosts at the scene?” I asked her, a little startled with this new thought.